ENVIRONMENT FOOD AND RURAL AFFAIRS

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs pursuant to the answer of 2 June 2010, to Question 572, what timetable she has set for introducing badger control measures; and what scientific evidence she plans to take into account in considering the authorisation of a cull.

James Paice: A timetable for introducing a badger control policy has not yet been set as we are looking at all the evidence including the full range of scientific evidence and considering all the relevant issues to develop a comprehensive and balanced package of measures to tackle TB in cattle.

Cattle: Animal Welfare

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what her policy is on the practice of factory farming of dairy cows.

James Paice: The welfare of livestock, including cows, is protected by the Welfare of Farmed Animals (England) Regulations 2007 and the Animal Welfare Act 2006. There are codes of recommendations published on the DEFRA website which farmers are required by law to have access to, and be familiar with, which encourage high standards of husbandry. Enforcement action can be taken against farmers who do not comply with this legislation.
	The Government welcome innovative and entrepreneurial efforts by dairy farmers to improve their global competitiveness, while protecting the environment and meeting animal welfare standards. All dairy cattle, in whatever system they are kept, are protected by comprehensive animal welfare legislation in England. It is important to recognise that poor welfare can occur in both intensive and extensive systems, and the most significant influence on the welfare of livestock is the stock-keeper, not the system in which it is reared.

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what percentage of invoices from suppliers to her Department were paid within 10 days of receipt in  (a) March and  (b) April 2010.

Richard Benyon: The information is as follows:
	
		
			   Percentage 
			  (a) March 2010 99.6 
			  (b) April 2010 99.78

Environmental Stewardship Scheme

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will make it her policy to promote the use of environmental stewardship schemes to protect biodiversity in upland areas.

James Paice: Environmental stewardship provides funding for farmers to deliver effective environmental land management. From this year, this includes a new strand called Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (Uplands ELS), targeted specifically at the conditions and type of farming in the severely disadvantaged areas of the English uplands. First agreements commence on 1 July 2010. Both Uplands ELS, and Stewardship as a whole, have specific objectives around biodiversity conservation, and Natural England has recently produced information on how to get the greatest biodiversity benefits from land management choices under stewardship as part of their entry level stewardship training and information work.

Fisheries: Northern Ireland

Margaret Ritchie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what recent discussions her Department has had with the Northern Ireland Executive on the forthcoming fisheries negotiating round in the Agriculture and Fisheries Council.

Richard Benyon: My officials met with their Northern Irish counterparts and representatives of the UK fishing industry as recently as 4 June to discuss plans for the forthcoming negotiations, exploring in particular, the consequences of the new format for the scientific advice from the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES)-based on working towards maximum sustainable yield-the first instalment of which is expected later this month.
	In the light of this advice, we will then decide, with colleagues from all the devolved administrations, what the 2011 priority stocks on which we will focus our attention should be for the UK. It is clear that for Northern Ireland, these will include Irish Sea nephrops, a critical stock for their fleet.

Flood Control

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what additional resources she intends to allocate for the extension of flood defences following the recommendations of the Pitt Report.

Richard Benyon: We are currently working through the detail of the policies set out in the coalition agreement and other issues in the DEFRA portfolio, which includes funding for flood defences. We will keep the DEFRA website updated as work progresses.

Floods: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what options her Department is considering for flood prevention in Pendle.

Richard Benyon: The Environment Agency is currently producing the Burnley, Nelson and Colne Strategy which will look at managing flood risk in these urban districts.
	The strategy will go out for consultation in July.

Floods: Worcestershire

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs 
	(1)  whether she plans to maintain agreed levels of funding for flood defence schemes in Upton-upon-Severn, Uckinghall, Kempsey, Pershore and Powick; and if she will make a statement;
	(2)  if she will visit Tenbury Wells to discuss the provision of flood defences; if she will review the Government's formula for funding flood defences to assist the town to meet the criteria for funding; and if she will make a statement.

Richard Benyon: We are currently working through the detail of the policies set out in the coalition agreement and other issues in DEFRA's portfolio, which include flooding risk management. We will keep DEFRA's website updated as work progresses.
	In my role as Minister I hope to have the opportunity to visit many parts of the country, including inland areas which have faced, or may in the future face, flooding problems.

Food: Procurement

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will assess the merits of bringing forward proposals to prohibit the provision of seafood produced from endangered species in public sector organisations; and if she will bring forward proposals for a  (a) mechanism and  (b) timetable for increasing the use of demonstrably sustainable fish.

Richard Benyon: DEFRA and HM Revenue and Customs enforce strict controls on the import and marketing of animals and animal products from species classified as endangered under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES).
	The Government support moves to ensure that seafood procured by the public sector is from sustainable sources and avoids seafood from endangered species. The public sector must lead by example on this and DEFRA is looking into how this can be achieved.
	Advice and guidance in sustainable sourcing of food, including fish, for the public sector, for example by reference to the Marine Stewardship Council's Eco-label scheme and equivalent certification schemes that meet the UN FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, is already available in the PSFPI catering service and food procurement toolkit, which is available on the DEFRA website. Public sector procurement guidance also refers to the IUCN red list as being definitive on endangered species.

Food: Procurement

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will bring forward proposals to set standards of animal welfare for the procurement of food and meals by the public sector; and if she will make a statement.

James Paice: The Government support moves to raise animal welfare standards both domestically and internationally, and our livestock industry already has some of the highest standards for farm animal welfare in the world.
	The public sector must lead by example on this and DEFRA is taking forward the commitment in the coalition agreement to ensure that, food procured by Government Departments, and eventually the whole public sector, meets British standards of production wherever this can be achieved without increasing overall cost.

Forestry Commission

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what plans she has for the Forestry Commission.

James Paice: The Queen's Speech announced the Government's intention to bring forward a Bill to reform public bodies. DEFRA, along with other sponsor departments, is carrying out a critical examination of the number and cost of its arm's length bodies. The role of the Forestry Commission is being considered as part of that review.

Hazardous Substances: Waste Disposal

Caroline Lucas: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will hold a public inquiry into the alleged role of UK-based  (a) firms and  (b) nationals in the dumping of toxic waste off Côte d'Ivoire in 2006.

Richard Benyon: We have no plans for a public inquiry.

WALES

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what her estimate is of the cost to the public purse of proposed reductions in numbers of non-front line staff in her Department and its agencies.

Cheryl Gillan: Nil. It is envisaged that any reductions could be achieved through a process of natural wastage.

Departmental Redundancy Pay

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what her most recent estimate is of the annual cost to her Department of redundancy payments for  (a) front line and  (b) other staff.

Cheryl Gillan: My department has not made any redundancy payments.

Trade Unions

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales what plans she has to consult trade unions in her Department concerning deficit reduction plans.

Cheryl Gillan: Should the need arise, we will apply the principles set out in the Ministry of Justice's managing organisational change framework.

ATTORNEY-GENERAL

Conditional Fee Arrangements

Robert Buckland: To ask the Attorney-General if he will undertake a review of the effects on the civil justice system of the operation of conditional fee agreements.

Jonathan Djanogly: I have been asked to reply.
	Conditional fee agreements or CFAs have played a role in giving people access to justice. However, the Government are aware of some concerns around their operation. Lord Justice Jackson conducted a comprehensive review of civil litigation costs which also covered the operation of CFAs. His report: "Review of Civil Litigation Costs: Final Report," published on 14 January 2010, has recommended significant changes to the operation of CFAs. We are considering Lord Justice Jackson's proposals carefully to assess their impact before determining what reforms might be necessary to the operation of CFAs to ensure proportionate access to justice.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Helen Goodman: To ask the Attorney-General how many special advisers  (a) he and  (b) the Solicitor-General (i) has appointed to date and (ii) plans to appoint.

Dominic Grieve: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to her by the Prime Minister on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W.

WORK AND PENSIONS

Pensioners: Poverty

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  what his most recent estimate is of the number of pensioners living in poverty in  (a) the UK and  (b) Coventry;
	(2)  what steps he plans to take to reduce the numbers of pensioners living in poverty in  (a) the UK and  (b) Coventry.

Steve Webb: The most commonly used measure of poverty relates to those with incomes below 60% of contemporary median income, after housing costs.
	The latest figures for the UK are published in the Households Below Average Income series, and show that in 2008-09 there were 1.8 million pensioners in poverty (16% of all pensioners). Figures are quoted to the nearest 100,000 and percentages are quoted to the nearest whole percentage point.
	Estimates of poverty only allow a breakdown of the overall numbers in poverty at Government Office Region level. Therefore, information is available for the West Midlands Government Office Region, but not available for the city of Coventry.
	Three-year averages are used to report regional statistics as single-year estimates are subject to volatility. The latest information relates to the period 2006-07 to 2008-09 in which there were around 200,000 pensioners in poverty (16 per cent) in the West Midlands Government Office Region (again, figures are quoted to the nearest 100,000 and percentages are quoted to the nearest whole percentage point).
	This Government will restore the earnings link for the basic state pension from April 2011, with a 'triple guarantee' that pensions are raised by the highest of earnings, prices or 2.5%.
	We will help prevent people from falling into poverty in later life by simplifying the rules and regulations relating to pensions to help reinvigorate occupational pensions. We will encourage companies to offer high-quality pensions to all employees and will work with businesses and the industry to support auto enrolment.

DEFENCE

Aircraft Carriers

Ian Davidson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Minister for Defence Procurement has examined the break clauses on the aircraft carrier contract.

Peter Luff: Work has been conducted across the Department to understand the MOD's commitments and liabilities for equipment programmes, including the Queen Elizabeth Class Aircraft Carriers. Ministers have been briefed on the outcome of this work as part of normal briefing.
	We are now in the process of carrying out a Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), within which all aspects of the defence programme will be examined. This will ensure that the armed forces have what they need in order to do what we ask of them and that the defence budget is spent as efficiently, effectively and economically as possible.

Atomic Weapons Establishment

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what requests he has received from the Health and Safety Executive Nuclear Installations Inspectorate for information on changes to the organisational structure of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE); and what estimate he has made of the effect on the number of AWE posts with responsibility for monitoring and enforcing safety or environmental performance of those changes.

Peter Luff: I have not received, nor would I expect to receive, any such requests in respect of regulatory matters between the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate (NII) and AWE plc. Ministry of Defence (MOD) Officials are, however, kept informed of AWE plc's interfaces with regulators, including the NII and the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR).
	The NII and DNSR have carried out a joint assessment of organisational changes that have recently been proposed by AWE plc. The NII and DNSR have indicated jointly to AWE plc that, subject to ongoing dialogue and regulatory oversight, they have no objection to the implementation of these changes. No separate MOD estimate has been made of the effect on the numbers of AWE plc personnel required, nor is one needed.

Atomic Weapons Establishment

Mike Hancock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what account he plans to take of environmental impact assessment regulations in implementing proposals for a new hydrodynamics facility, project Hydrus, at Atomic Weapons Establishment Aldermaston.

Peter Luff: The Department will take full account of these regulations in implementing proposals for project Hydrus.
	The regulations allow for individual defence environmental impact assessment exemption directions to be sought in order to safeguard national security. In cases where exemptions are granted, it is our practice to supply, in place of a statutory environmental statement (ES), a defence exempt environmental appraisal with the relevant planning documents. In this way, only information considered sensitive and prejudicial to national defence is not published; all other information normally included in an ES is included with the application to the local planning authority.

China: Military Aid

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what the extent is of the contacts between the Royal Navy and the People's Liberation Army Navy of the People's Republic of China.

Nick Harvey: In recent years there have been a number of high level visits between the respective Chiefs of Navies and their Senior Commanders, underpinned by successful working level visits. Such activities generate greater knowledge of each others' intentions, culture and ethos, which promote mutual trust and reduce the risk of misunderstanding. The UK has recently welcomed China's participation in the Shared Awareness and Deconfliction (SHADE) group, which manages the plethora of multi-national and national counter-piracy activity in the Gulf of Aden. Naval ship visits also play an important part in the development of navy-to-navy relations.

Departmental Consultants

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how much his Department spent on external consultations in each of the last five years.

Andrew Robathan: Over the last five years, the Ministry of Defence has on average conducted four external consultations per year on a variety of Defence-related topics. Information about the cost of conducting these consultations is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many non-UK citizens are employed as special advisers in his Department.

Liam Fox: One.

France

Mark Tami: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many drivers provided by his Department were involved in transporting the Minister for Veterans to France and to his constituency on 29 and 30 May 2010.

Andrew Robathan: holding answer 7 June 2010
	 One driver was used to transport the Minster for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans to join commemorations of the 70th anniversary of Dunkirk. However, in accordance with the EC regulations and working time regulations on the number of hours that a driver can work within a 24 hour period, one additional driver was used in the UK to complete the return journey to the Minister's constituency.

Hebrides Missile Range

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will offer QinetiQ an incentive to generate business at the Hebrides Range.

Peter Luff: holding answer 7 June 2010
	The Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) with QinetiQ, which covers the operation of the Hebrides Range and other facilities, already provides for commercial usage by third parties. Nonetheless, it is recognised that further, appropriate, incentivisation could help QinetiQ to attract more work of this kind. However, we must also ensure that in doing so we comply with our EU Treaty obligations and avoid any state aid. These are complex issues, but my officials are working to develop an incentive regime for all LTPA facilities, which would meet these criteria.

Hebrides Missile Range

Angus MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how revenue arising from new business at the Hebrides Range will be divided between his Department and QinetiQ.

Peter Luff: holding answer 7 June 2010
	It has not yet been possible to set in place a legally compliant regime to attract new commercial business to facilities covered by the Long Term Partnering Agreement (LTPA) with QinetiQ, including the Hebrides Range. The LTPA provides for third party usage of facilities and contains complex gain-share provisions covering the attribution of revenues between the Ministry of Defence, the owners of the sites in question, and QinetiQ. However, I am withholding the precise details of these arrangements as disclosure could damage QinetiQ's commercial interests.

Hercules Aircraft

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence for how long RAF Brize Norton was closed as a consequence of the incident on a Hercules aircraft on 6 May 2010; and how many flights were  (a) diverted to RAF Lyneham and  (b) cancelled.

Nick Harvey: As a consequence of a landing incident involving a Hercules C-130 aircraft, RAF Brize Norton was closed from 1813 hrs on 6 May 2010 until 16.50 hrs on 7 May 2010.
	During this period two flights were diverted to RAF Lyneham, and three flights to other airfields.
	One operational flight was cancelled as a result of the airfield being unavailable, although this task was absorbed into a subsequent flight. 11 training flights from RAF Brize Norton were also cancelled. This small backlog of training has now been recovered.

Hercules Aircraft

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the effects on the Afghanistan Airbridge of the incident involving a Hercules aircraft at RAF Brize Norton on 6 May 2010; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Harvey: There was only minor disruption to the operation of the Afghanistan Airbridge following the incident involving a Hercules C-130 aircraft at RAF Brize Norton on 6 May 2010. All scheduled dispatch and recovery of personnel and equipment was achieved within required time scales.

Nuclear Submarines

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence 
	(1)  what operational safety reviews are in place for the UK's nuclear submarine fleet; and for what reason such reviews did not detect the safety valves faults on HMS Tireless and HMS Turbulent;
	(2)  for what reason standard operational procedures did not detect the reported faults with the safety valves on the HMS Tireless and HMS Turbulent; and if he will make a statement.

Peter Luff: The problem referred to was the failure to remove hull valve blanks fitted as part of the Trafalgar class maintenance process. The valves themselves were not faulty.
	The UK's nuclear submarines operate within strict safety management arrangements. The nuclear safety elements of these are regulated by the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator (DNSR) who investigated this issue working with other interested parties including the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate.

Nuclear Submarines

Pete Wishart: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment his Department has made of the potential effects of a malfunctioning safety valve on board a vessel of the UK's nuclear submarine fleet on active service.

Peter Luff: The problem referred to was the failure to remove hull valve blanks fitted as part of the Trafalgar class maintenance process. The valves themselves were not faulty.
	The relief valves provide a relief path in the event of over-pressurization of certain secondary, non-nuclear elements of the propulsion system. Hull valve blanks would have blocked this relief path. In practice, however, the likelihood of an event occurring that would require the operation of the relief valves is small during normal operation. This is because the relief system in question is a back up to other system components and safeguards that were operating correctly.

Quick Reaction Alert

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects the RAF Typhoon to take over responsibility for Quick Reaction Alert from the RAF Tornado.

Nick Harvey: Typhoon already undertakes Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) duties at RAF Coningsby. On current plans Typhoon will begin to take up QRA duties at RAF Leuchars, in conjunction with Tornado F3, from late 2010 and will take over complete responsibility in April 2011 when Tornado F3 retires from service.

Quick Reaction Alert

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether the RAF received notification from any other national agency of the flight path of the Russian Blackjack bombers intercepted on 10 March 2010.

Nick Harvey: The detection and identification of aircraft within the NATO Air Policing Area for which the UK is responsible is carried out by the Royal Air Force Air Surveillance and Control System. The system draws on data from a range of RAF and Royal Navy assets as well as from the civilian Air Traffic Control centres and from those NATO allies with responsibility for adjacent Air Policing Areas.
	The Russian aircraft detected on 10 March 2010 did not file any flightplan with civil air traffic authorities.

Quick Reaction Alert

Michael Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions  (a) RAF Typhoons and  (b) RAF Tornados have been deployed over Scotland in a Quick Reaction Alert capacity in the last 12 months.

Nick Harvey: In the last 12 months, from 1 June 2009, RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) aircraft were launched on 15 separate days. Not every launch resulted in an interception, as some incidents were resolved before this occurred.
	For the requested period no aircraft was intercepted or escorted over Scotland. QRA aircraft were launched for Russian Military aircraft in the NATO Air Policing Area for which the UK has responsibility, but they remained in international airspace at all times.
	I am withholding the specific type of RAF aircraft involved for reasons of national security.

FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS

Anguilla

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much he has agreed to allow the Government of Anguilla to borrow in the next 12 months.

Henry Bellingham: We are working closely with the Government of Anguilla as they prepare their 2010 budget to be implemented by the end of June, and a three year plan to return public finances to sustainability.

Anguilla and Turks and Caicos Islands

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the economic stability of  (a) Anguilla and  (b) the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Henry Bellingham: The downturn in the global economy has had a severe impact in both Anguilla and the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI). Public finances have also suffered as both territories have relied heavily on tourism and construction for a large part of their revenue base. Between 2008 and 2009 Government revenues fell by 28% in Anguilla and by around 33% in the TCI. This sharp downturn in Government revenues has put pressure on public finances and-as in other jurisdictions-there has been a need to reduce public expenditure. The Governments of the TCI and Anguilla are aware of the need to take action to put their public finances on a sustainable footing. We are working closely with both to address these challenges, including funding revenue studies in both Territories, and an expenditure study in Anguilla.
	The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) continues to monitor the economic and financial position of the Overseas Territories. Officials from the FCO and the Department for International Development undertook a joint mission to the TCI in May to assess the situation. The FCO will send a similar mission to Anguilla in June.

Ascension Island

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial assistance he plans to provide to Ascension Island.

Henry Bellingham: There is no plan to provide budgetary aid to Ascension Island.
	There is no settled community on Ascension Island as there is no Right of Abode. It would not be appropriate for the Island to receive budgetary aid.

British Overseas Territories: Biodiversity

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made a recent assessment of threats to biodiversity in  (a) the Falkland Islands,  (b) Ascension Island,  (c) the British Indian Ocean Territory and  (d) British Antarctic.

Henry Bellingham: Responsibility for environmental issues in the Falkland Islands and Ascension Island has been devolved to their respective territory governments, who assess and evaluate their own biodiversity priorities.
	In the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT), the BIOT Commissioner's scientific/environmental adviser travels to the territory annually and reports on environmental issues there, including threats to biodiversity if appropriate. In February 2010, a scientific expedition team travelled with him to undertake environmental monitoring for improved conservation management. This was funded by the Overseas Territories Environment Programme.
	The threats to biodiversity in the Antarctic were addressed in the comprehensive Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research report on "Antarctic Climate Change and the Environment" published in November 2009. Several of the lead authors and editors were from the British Antarctic Survey.

British Overseas Territories: Equality

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will ensure that new constitutions for British Overseas Territories include effective equality clauses.

Henry Bellingham: The Government takes the protection of human rights very seriously. We will ensure that all new Overseas Territory constitutions contain a Bill of Rights, including a non-discrimination clause that reflects at a minimum the European Convention on Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

Colombia: Human Rights

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on human rights in Colombia.

Jeremy Browne: The human rights situation in Colombia is of significant concern. High levels of poverty and inequality, and the continued internal conflict fuelled by the cocaine trade, continue to undermine respect for human rights. Human rights defenders, including civil society activists, lawyers, trade unionists, journalists and religious leaders continue to suffer frequent violence and intimidation. We receive regular reports about human rights abuses committed by state security forces, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), illegal armed groups and criminal gangs. The high level of impunity exacerbates the problem.
	The UK will continue to raise concerns with the Colombian government at a senior level and give support to those who are affected by the violence. We will also work with our EU and other international partners to ensure that human rights is core to the new government's policies when it is elected later this month. And in practical terms, subject to the review of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office programme budgets, we will continue to support projects on the ground that help improve human rights.

Cuba

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he plans to visit Cuba.

Jeremy Browne: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has no current plans to visit Cuba.

Cuba: EU External Relations

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the future of the EU Common Position on Cuba.

Jeremy Browne: The EU's Common Position on Cuba will be evaluated by the Foreign Affairs Council on 14 June. While, like most EU member states, the UK would like to be in a position to have a more normal bilateral relationship between the EU and Cuba, we cannot support the end of the Common Position against the current background of human rights abuses in Cuba.

Cyprus: Peace Negotiations

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the progress of settlement talks in Cyprus.

David Lidington: The Government support the continuing negotiations aimed at reaching an agreed settlement on the island for the benefit of all Cypriots. The two leaders in Cyprus held their first meeting since elections in the north of the island on 26 May and spoke again on 3 June. Further meetings are planned at both expert and leader level in the coming weeks. Both sides have agreed to negotiate within the UN parameters and resume from where the negotiations left off on 30 March. Discussions continue to take place in a constructive atmosphere and are currently focusing on property. We urge all sides to grasp this opportunity and build on the considerable convergences achieved in the talks to date to achieve an early solution.

Democratic Republic of Congo: Peacekeeping Operations

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken at  (a) national and  (b) international level to bring (i) stability and (ii) humanitarian aid to the Democratic Republic of the Congo following the expiry of the United Nations mandate; and if he will make a statement.

Henry Bellingham: The mandate for the UN Peacekeeping Mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) (MONUSCO from June 2010, MONUC before) has recently been renewed until the end of June 2011. The UK lobbied strongly during the negotiations to ensure the UN peacekeeping force was given an effective mandate with protection of civilians as the highest priority. We are pleased with the outcome of the mandate.
	Under the new mandate MONUC/MONUSCO, will continue to play an integral role in Security Sector Reform (SSR) in DRC. Reform of the Congolese security sector is essential to bringing peace and stability to DRC and we will continue to support this process.
	The UK is a key contributor to the UN Humanitarian Pooled fund. This fund aims to tackle the most critical humanitarian needs in the DRC, and enable a rapid response to any unforeseen circumstances. The UK will contribute £30 million to the fund over 2010-11.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many special advisers  (a) he and  (b) each named Minister in his Department (i) has appointed to date and (ii) plans to appoint.

David Lidington: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's response of 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W.

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many non-UK citizens are employed as special advisers in his Department.

Alistair Burt: I refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Minister for the Cabinet Office's response of 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 51W.

Departmental Official Cars

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Government  (a) cars and  (b) drivers are allocated to Ministers in his Department.

David Lidington: The Foreign Secretary uses a Government car but full details of his transport arrangements are not published for security reasons. Other Foreign Office Ministers currently use a combination of allocated and pool cars. These arrangements are subject to review. The new ministerial code, published on 21 May 2010, contains changes that affect ministerial entitlement to travel by Government car. It states that
	"the number of Ministers with allocated cars and drivers will be kept to a minimum, taking into account security and other relevant considerations. Other Ministers will be entitled to use cars from the Government Car Service Pool as needed".
	The Department for Transport and its Government Car and Despatch Agency are working with Departments to effect the transition to the new arrangements. The ministerial code, published on 21 May 2010, is available on the Cabinet Office website.

Gibraltar: Equality

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to ensure that there is an equal age of consent in Gibraltar.

David Lidington: There is an ongoing Gibraltar court case launched by the Government of Gibraltar to examine the compatibility of Gibraltar's Age of Consent law with Gibraltar's Constitution.
	On 6 April this year the UK responded to an invitation from the Supreme Court of Gibraltar for applications by interested parties to the case. The UK intervention will set out the international legal arguments that the distinction in Age of Consent (and other discriminatory provisions relating to sexual offences) are in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR).
	The British Government takes seriously its obligations under ECHR which also extend to the Overseas Territories (OTs). We are committed to working with OT Governments to ensure we meet these obligations.

Honduras: Politics and Government

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on the recognition of the government of Honduras.

Jeremy Browne: The UK has a long-standing policy of recognising states and not governments.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the Israeli government in respect of British nationals who were part of the Free Gaza Movement flotilla and who have subsequently been detained by Israeli forces; and what reports he has received on the level of access to lawyers afforded to those detained.

Alistair Burt: We are in regular touch with the Israeli Government, in Israel and in London.
	My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to the Israeli Foreign Minister on 1 June 2010 and I met the Israeli ambassador on 3 June 2010. We made the UK's position very clear. We pressed the Israelis to allow our staff immediate access to those detained, to ensure we could provide proper and timely consular assistance.
	I understand those detained were not offered access to legal representation by the Israeli authorities. Our consular staff raised the issue of legal representation with those British nationals who they were able to meet in Beer'Sheva prison on 1 June 2010. The responses of British nationals detained there varied; some did not want to engage legal assistance, some asked us to contact the organisers' lawyers, and some asked us to provide lists of English speaking local lawyers. Our consul in Tel Aviv returned the next day with lists of English speaking local lawyers, however due to the speed with which the prisoners were transferred to Ben Gurion airport before they were deported, he was unable to provide this list to those who requested it. Should any British nationals require it, they can obtain the lists from our embassy in Tel Aviv or the embassy website.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the destination of the aid carried by the Free Gaza Movement flotilla.

Alistair Burt: We are aware of media reports on this issue including that some items are likely to be withheld due to the restrictions in place on import of items to Gaza. We continue to monitor these developments.
	As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement to the House on 2 June 2010, it is essential that there be unfettered access not only to meet the humanitarian needs of the people of Gaza, but to enable the reconstruction of homes and livelihoods and permit trade to take place. We continue to press the Israeli Government to lift Gaza's closure. The Foreign Secretary is also discussing these issues with international partners, including during visits to European capitals this week.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Jo Swinson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has made an assessment of the merits of an international investigation into the actions of the Israeli government in relation to the Free Gaza Movement flotilla.

Alistair Burt: As my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary made clear in his statement to the House on 2 June 2010 we want to see a full credible, impartial and independent investigation into events surrounding the interception of boats in the "Free Gaza" flotilla. Our goal is a process that ensures full accountability for the events that occurred and commends the confidence of the international community, including international participation.

Pitcairn Islands: Children

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent assessment he has made of the level of child safety in Pitcairn.

Henry Bellingham: A Pitcairn Child Safety Review, commissioned by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and the Department for International Development was completed by independent experts in June 2009. The review concluded that further work was needed to improve the management of the risks to child safety on Pitcairn. The Government are working to implement the recommendations made in the report. A further review is planned for 2011.
	The UK Government take its responsibilities for child protection on Pitcairn very seriously. There is a significant community of professionals on Pitcairn, including a police officer, a trained social worker, a teacher and a doctor. An FCO official stationed on the island is the designated Children's officer. There are established policies and procedures in place for handling specific child protection concerns. All professionals receive child protection training before they go to the island, and most members of the island community have also attended human rights training and child protection training.

Russia: Corruption

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent reports he has received on the incidence of corruption in the Russian Federation.

David Lidington: President Medvedev has highlighted corruption as a serious problem in Russia, affecting many areas of life. Russia slipped to 120th out of 183 countries in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business survey 2010. It ranks 147th on Transparency International's corruption index.
	The Government welcome President Medvedev's focus on the need to strengthen the rule of law in Russia. Implementation of this agenda would significantly enhance Russia's ability to meet the standards it set itself when it joined organisations such as the Council of Europe and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. We also welcome the work that Russia is doing on accession to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and joining the anti-bribery convention.
	The UK regularly raises the issue of rule of law and the need for judicial reform with the Russian Government, both bilaterally and with the EU, and will continue to do so.

Turks and Caicos Islands: Elections

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects elections to be held in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Henry Bellingham: We are giving careful consideration to the timing of elections in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
	We hope to see elected government restored as soon as practicable, and we are working hard to ensure that key elements of good governance and sound public financial management are well embedded before elections take place.

UN Security Council

David Hamilton: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what the Government's policy is on whether any new member of the United Nations Security Council should automatically have the veto.

Henry Bellingham: We support reform of the UN Security Council, including expansion of the number of permanent members.
	However, expanding the number of permanent members should not automatically increase the number of states with the right to veto.

Venezuela: Foreign Relations

Chris Bryant: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his policy is on relations with the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

Jeremy Browne: The UK enjoys a constructive partnership with Venezuela in areas of mutual interest including tackling drug trafficking, climate change, education and the promotion of bilateral trade and investment. Our policy is to build on this relationship with mutual respect. The UK congratulates Venezuela as it celebrates the bicentenary of the foundation of the Republic.

Yemen: Politics and Government

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what his most recent assessment is of the security situation in Yemen; and what steps his Department has taken together with the Yemeni Government to tackle international terrorism following the meeting in London on 27 January 2010.

Alistair Burt: The UK is concerned about the security situation in Yemen. The terrorist threat in Yemen is high and we judge that attacks are highly likely, as we make clear in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice.
	However, terrorism is not the greatest or only threat facing Yemen today. We are particularly concerned about decreasing stability across the country and about the resultant increase in local conflict. Al Qaeda looks to exploit instability where it can-the root causes of which are often wider social, economic and political problems. Rising insecurity, conflict and extremism in Yemen will pose a threat to UK long-term interests of stability in the region and beyond, including energy security and global trade flows. Increased radicalisation directly threatens economic and security interests in the Gulf and could pose an indirect threat abroad.
	Central therefore to the UK's approach to counter terrorism in Yemen is the reality that counter terrorism cannot be looked at in isolation. It is linked to Yemen's other security and daunting economic challenges.
	The attempted assassination of the British ambassador to Yemen, Tim Torlot, on 26 April 2010 highlights the stark threat posed by terrorists in Yemen, who have no regard for the lives of the innocent Yemeni citizens caught up in such atrocities.
	The Government of Yemen has committed publicly to combating terrorism both inside and outside of Yemen and has conducted successful operations, including against members of Al-Qaida in Yemen. The UK is committed to helping the Yemeni Government tackle terrorism in Yemen. Our bilateral support helps the Yemeni Government address the underlying economic and social causes of terror and radicalisation, and enhances their capacity to pursue and prosecute terrorists in Yemen. This includes through the provision of expert advice and through our increasing development programme.
	We have also been working in concert with other international partners, including as part of the Friends of Yemen process, to support and encourage reform in Yemen.

NORTHERN IRELAND

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what percentage of invoices from suppliers to his Department were paid within 10 days of receipt in  (a) March and  (b) April 2010.

Owen Paterson: In March 2010, the Department paid 97% of invoices from suppliers within 10 days. In April 2010, the Department paid 87% of invoices from suppliers within 10 days.
	On 12 April, responsibility for policing and justice in Northern Ireland was devolved to the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive. During the time leading up to devolution, the Department had to refocus priorities and this led to a reduction in prompt payment performance. The Department is committed to the achievement of the target to pay 95% of suppliers within 10 days and will make every effort to ensure performance improves to meet the target.

Departmental Redundancy Pay

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to his Department of redundancy payments for  (a) front line and  (b) other staff employed by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Owen Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is not currently anticipating any expenditure on redundancies in the Department or its agencies. If any redundancy or other exit payments are made throughout 2010-11 they will be disclosed in the resource accounts for 2010-11.

Trade Unions

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what plans he has to consult trade unions in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies concerning deficit reduction plans.

Owen Paterson: The Northern Ireland Office (NIO) is preparing a deficit reduction plan. Once plans are finalised, and if they affect staff, trade unions will of course be consulted.

HOME DEPARTMENT

Closed Circuit Television

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if she will estimate the number of crimes detected through the use of CCTV equipment in the last 12 months; and what types of crime were so detected.

James Brokenshire: holding answer 7 June 2010
	This information is not held centrally.

Crime Prevention

Graham Allen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps her Department is taking to implement early intervention policies.

Nick Herbert: We will be working closely with the Ministry of Justice and the Department for Education over the coming months to develop the early interventions that take place before a young person is caught up in the criminal justice system. We want to make sure that local interventions are effective in preventing offending and reoffending.

Forensic Science Service

Nicholas Soames: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans she has for the Forensic Science Service.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office is supporting the Forensic Science Service (FSS) Ltd in its implementation of a radical transformation plan that will enable it to compete effectively in the commercial market for forensic science services that exists in the United Kingdom. The FSS will continue to play a major role in providing robust and reliable forensic science to the criminal justice system.

Knives: Crime

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps she plans to take to reduce the incidence of knife crime.

James Brokenshire: We will introduce better technology and reduce bureaucracy to give police forces greater freedom to target their activities according to local need, including tackling knife crime. Hospitals will share non-confidential information with the police so they can target stop and search in gun and knife crime hot spots. We will also share information on which policing techniques and sentences are most effective at cutting crime across the criminal justice system.

CULTURE MEDIA AND SPORT

Departmental Mobile Phones

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport which Ministers in his Department have been issued with  (a) a Blackberry,  (b) an iPhone,  (c) another make of mobile telephone and  (d) a personal digital assistant supplied by the Department.

Hugh Robertson: All four Ministers at this Department have been issued with one Blackberry each.

Departmental Official Cars

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what the  (a) make,  (b) model and  (c) place of manufacture is of the car allocated for the use of each Minister in his Department.

Hugh Robertson: No cars or drivers are allocated to Ministers in the Department. Existing contracts were cancelled by the Secretary of State on his arrival, delivering net annual savings of £250,000.

Olympic Games 2012: Lancashire

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport what recent assessment he has made of the likely effects of the London 2012 Olympics on the economy of  (a) Pendle constituency and  (b) Lancashire.

Hugh Robertson: I have not made a specific assessment of the effects of the games on the economies of the Pendle constituency or Lancashire. However, the North West stands to gain from the wide range of opportunities created by the games, through businesses winning games-related work and increased tourism. Locations across the UK, particularly those that have non-London games venues and those that are hosting international teams in pre-games training camps, will have the opportunity to create further economic benefits, including inward investment, through the international attention that will follow.
	We are already seeing good progress in these areas, for example, 11 of the Olympic Delivery Authority's suppliers are businesses registered in Lancashire, and more are winning work in the supply chains of its contractors. The Old Trafford football stadium will be one of the key non-London venues hosting football matches. Additionally, 68 facilities in the region are included in the official London 2012 Pre-Games Training Camp Guide, and to date memoranda of understandings are in place with 17 of the Oceania National Olympic Committees, the National Olympic Committee of Thailand and Australia's swimming team, formalising their intentions to use facilities in the region in the run up to the games.

S4C: Finance

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport whether he has had recent discussions with S4C on voluntary reductions in its budget.

Jeremy Hunt: I discussed funding reductions with S4C recently. The outcome was that it was mutually agreed that there would be a reduction of £2 million in S4C's budget from my department for the current year.

TRANSPORT

Departmental Public Expenditure

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what recent estimate he has made of the proportion of his Department's expenditure which is allocated to each region.

Philip Hammond: Estimates of my Department's expenditure analysed by region have been provided in successive Annual Reports, which are lodged in the Library of the House and available on the Department for Transport's website. The most recent estimate available is contained within the 2008-09 Annual Report, which sets out outturn spend by region up to 2007-08 and planned spend for 2008-09 and 2009-10.
	HM Treasury's Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses Publication for 2009, which is available on HM Treasury's website, sets out expenditure on transport by region for the public sector as a whole for successive years up to 2008-09.
	The DfT Annual Report 2008-09 is available at:
	http://www.dft.gov.uk/about/publications/apr/ar2009/arra.pdf
	(Table A7, "Total spending country and region", page 230)
	HM Treasury's Public Expenditure Statistical Analyses Publication for 2009 is available at:
	http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/pesa_180609.pdf
	(Table 9.8e, "Identifiable expenditure on economic affairs (of which: transport) by country and region, 2003-04 to 2008-09", page 134)

Northern Rail: Rolling Stock

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport how many additional rail carriages have been provided to Northern Rail as part of the High Level Output Specification Process, and how this compares with those allocated to other train operating companies.

Theresa Villiers: 18 carriages have been contracted to be operated by Northern Rail as part of the high level output specification process.
	Carriages contracted to be operated by other operators are as follows:
	
		
			   Number 
			 London Midland 28 
			 National Express East Anglia 188 
			 Virgin West Coast 106 
			 First Capital Connect 153 
			 Chiltern Railways 8 
			 Southeastern 48 
			 Southern 60 
			 First Great Western 30 
			 East Midlands Trains 8

River Wear: Bridges

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what plans his Department has for funding a new bridge over the Wear in Sunderland.

Norman Baker: holding answer 7 June 2010
	 The Department for Transport will consider the funding for local authority major transport schemes as part of the Government's spending review to be carried out by the autumn. Until then the Department can give no assurances on funding for any local authority scheme that is not yet in construction.

Safety Belts

George Hollingbery: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport whether he plans to extend the requirement for the wearing of seat belts in coaches beyond the current age limit of 13 years; and if he will make a statement.

Michael Penning: Current regulations require all bus and coach passengers aged 14 years and above to use a seatbelt if available. Younger children must do so in a front seat. EC Directive 2003/20/EC requires us to consider how to extend these requirements in relation to all children aged three to 14 riding as passengers in buses and coaches.

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what percentage of invoices from suppliers to his Department were paid within 10 days of receipt in  (a) March and  (b) April 2010.

Andrew Mitchell: In March and April 2010 respectively, 96.5% and 90.5% of invoices were paid by the Department for International Development (DFID) within 10 days.

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development 
	(1)  what his estimate is of the cost to the public purse of proposed reductions in numbers of non-front line staff in his Department and its agencies;
	(2)  what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to his Department of redundancy payments for  (a) front line and  (b) other staff.

Andrew Mitchell: The Department for International Development (DFID) has initiated a programme to review our operating costs. Savings from this programme will be diverted into frontline departments to strengthen the delivery of our development programme.
	It is our policy to minimise any costs involved by redeploying affected staff and by not replacing staff that retire or leave DFID. Since specific proposals have not yet been developed, it is not possible to estimate the impact on staff numbers or potential costs.

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development how many  (a) front line and  (b) other staff were employed by (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies in the latest year for which figures are available; and what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to the public purse of employing staff of each type in his Department.

Andrew Mitchell: On 31 March 2010 the Department for International Development (DFID) employs 1819 frontline members of staff and 518 members of staff performing a range of corporate service functions, including HR, finance, IT, procurement, security, estates and office services. Staff costs for frontline activities in the 2009-10 financial year were £98 million. Staff costs for the corporate service functions for the same period were £28 million.

Departmental Public Expenditure

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development which of his Department's development awareness raising projects in Scotland have been abolished in the last 12 months; and what estimate his Department has made of the level of saving to the public purse.

Andrew Mitchell: In May 2010 Department for International Development (DFID) funding to one development awareness project in Scotland was cancelled. This project, run by the Scottish Development Education Centre, is titled "First Steps to Lasting Change: Targeting the Staff of the Early Education and Childcare Courses at Three FE Colleges in Edinburgh". This project aims to address the lack of awareness of global issues among early year education and child care staff.
	This decision to cancel this funding followed an initial review of those areas of expenditure where the link between project activities and poverty reduction in the developing world was least demonstrated. An estimate of funds saved by terminating this project is £121,095. These funds will be redirected to front line poverty reduction in developing countries.

Overseas Aid

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will take steps to ensure the continuation of the Governance and Transparency Fund to encourage transparent and accountable government in the developing world.

Andrew Mitchell: We have no plans to close the Governance and Transparency Fund (GTF).

Overseas Aid

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development whether the My Aid project for the allocation of UK aid represents Government policy.

Andrew Mitchell: The commitment to "create new mechanisms to give British people a direct say in how an element of the aid budget is spent" was laid out in "The Coalition: Our Programme for Government." Further details are being developed and will be shared with Parliament in due course.

Overseas Aid

William Bain: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development if he will make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer to ensure that no expenditure by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence is not reclassified as overseas aid.

Andrew Mitchell: All UK aid spending must meet the definition of Official Development Assistance agreed by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The Government are committed to ensuring that this is the case as set out in "The Coalition: Our Programme for Government".

Overseas Aid: Public Consultation

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what mechanism he plans to introduce for direct public involvement in determining the allocation of his Department's aid budget; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Mitchell: The commitment to "create new mechanisms to give British people a direct say in how an element of the aid budget is spent" was laid out in "The Coalition: Our Programme for Government." Further details are being developed and will be shared with Parliament in due course.

Trade Unions

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what plans he has to consult trade unions in his Department concerning deficit reduction plans.

Andrew Mitchell: Consistent with the Cabinet Office Code of Practice on Informing and Consulting Employee, it is the Department for International Development's (DFID's) normal practice to consult and communicate with staff and their representatives. There are a number of mechanisms through which we do this, including departmental Whitley council meetings, frequent meetings between DFID's HR director's and the chair of the Trade Union side and regular meetings senior managers hold with their staff.
	We also carry out meaningful consultation with staff and their representatives on specific change proposals. When we have any specific proposals we will engage and consult.

ENERGY AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Departmental Manpower

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change how many  (a) special advisers and  (b) press officers are employed by his Department; and at what Civil Service pay grade in each such case.

Gregory Barker: The information is as follows:
	 (a) I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the hon. Member for Bishop Auckland (Helen Goodman) on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W.
	 (b) There were 10 press officers in DECC as at 3 June 2010, all of them permanent full-time staff. These comprised one senior civil service pay band 1, two grade 7s, three senior information officers and four information officers.

Renewable Energy: Waste

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change whether he plans to encourage the use of energy from waste through anaerobic digestion; and if he will make a statement.

Gregory Barker: The Government are committed to maximising the potential of anaerobic digestion from waste, to contribute to climate change, energy security, waste management and wider sustainability objectives.
	Biogas produced from waste, through a range of anaerobic digestion processes, can be used locally or injected into the national gas grid, to provide heat and power for industry and homes, or a fuel for transport. Increased uptake of these innovative forms of renewable energy is a win for clean energy, green jobs and waste reduction.
	However, anaerobic digestion is currently undeveloped in the UK and decisive leadership from Government, together with collaborative working with industry and other stakeholders, is required to rapidly ramp up deployment and build a strong industry.
	I am working with Ministers from DEFRA and other Government Departments to determine an action plan for increasing use of anaerobic digestion in the UK, and expect to announce further details later this summer.

HEALTH

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of invoices from suppliers to his Department were paid within 10 days of receipt in  (a) March and  (b) April 2010.

Simon Burns: In March and April 2010 respectively, 96.9% and 94.1% of invoices were paid by the Department within 10 days.

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his estimate is of the cost to the public purse of proposed reductions in numbers of non-front line staff in his Department and its agencies.

Simon Burns: No estimate of the cost to proposed reductions in numbers of non-front line staff has yet been made by the Department or its Agency, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
	The civil service wide recruitment freeze announced by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 24 May 2010, will help the Department to minimise the need for reductions.
	Since 31 March 2010 there has been only one Executive Agency of the Department: the MHRA.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when and in what form he plans to publish a list of all items of expenditure by his Department over £25,000.

Simon Burns: The Prime Minister has written to Cabinet Ministers(1) reiterating transparency commitments made in the Coalition Programme for Government, and setting out a timetable for achieving them. In particular, all new items of central Government spending over £25,000 will be published online in an open format from November 2010.
	(1)www.number10.gov.uk/news/statements-and-articles/2010/05/letter-to-government-departments-on-opening-up-data-51204

Departmental Redundancy Pay

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to his Department of redundancy payments for  (a) front line and  (b) other staff employed by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Simon Burns: No estimate of the cost of future reductions has yet been made by the Department. We do, however, have a standard, nominal budget of £2.3 million for unavoidable redundancy in the financial year 2010-11.
	Since 31 March 2010 there has been only one Executive agency of the Department of Health: the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

General Practitioners

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when he expects his Department's proposal to give general practitioners authority over commissioning to be implemented; what steps he plans to take to implement that proposal; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: The "Coalition: Our Programme for Government" document indicates this Government's intention to strengthen the power of general practitioners as patients' expert guides through the health system by enabling them to commission care on their behalf. We will bring forward more detailed proposals in due course.

General Practitioners: Passports

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what recent guidance his Department has issued to  (a) general practitioners and  (b) other NHS staff on the level of fees charged for the signing of passport applications for patients.

Simon Burns: None. The countersigning of passports is not part of the work that general practitioners (GPs) or other national health service staff are required to do as part of their NHS responsibilities. Should a GP (or other NHS staff) countersign an application it is a private matter between the doctor and the applicant. Where a charge is made for this service this is purely a private matter, not covered by any national terms and conditions.

Health Centres: Christchurch

Christopher Chope: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he has taken since his appointment to ensure that his Department's interest in the former health centre at Saxon Square, Christchurch, is sold at the earliest opportunity.

Simon Burns: Discussions are continuing with the landlord in order to achieve an early disposal of the Department's interest in the property.

Marie Stopes International

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what payments his Department has made to Marie Stopes International for  (a) abortion,  (b) family planning and  (c) other reproductive health services in the last 12 months; how much he plans to allocate to Marie Stopes International for those purposes in each of the next three years; and if he will make a statement.

Anne Milton: No direct payments have been made by the Department to Marie Stopes International (MSI) in the past 12 months and no direct funding to this organisation is planned in this or future financial years. The national health service funds abortions undertaken by MSI under contract to individual primary care trusts. However, information on these contracts is commercially sensitive and not collected centrally.

NHS

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has for the future of  (a) National Health Service and  (b) his Department's IT systems.

Simon Burns: The Government will seek to achieve a more open market in national health service information technology (IT), complemented by a similar change in information provision, and underpinned by a framework of nationally agreed technical and data standards that ensure interoperability. We aim significantly to improve local ownership of solutions, but recognise that any movement from the current national infrastructure must ensure continued value for money and maintain the benefits of national procurement.
	Plans are in place to upgrade the Department's standard IT hardware and software, the infrastructure on which systems operate, and the bespoke business applications used to process information. Any future plans will emphasise the need to achieve value for money on all investments made, and to further the commitment to lowering the Department's carbon footprint.

NHS: Finance

David Davis: To ask the Secretary of State for Health when his Department plans to publish the report it commissioned from McKinsey on the fiscal future of the NHS.

Simon Burns: The McKinsey report on national health service productivity was published on the Department's website on 2 June 2010:
	www.dh.gov.uk/en/FreedomOfInformation/Freedomofinformationpublicationschemefeedback/FOIreleases/DH_116520

NHS: West Midlands

Harriett Baldwin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on requests from West Midlands Strategic Health Authority that primary care trusts in the West Mercia form a cluster.

Simon Burns: The Government have agreed that funding for the national health service should increase in real terms in each year of the Parliament. In order to ensure that the taxpayers receive value for money, the NHS must focus on delivering efficiency savings and reducing management costs is an important part of this. Regional and local proposals to do this should be discussed with those affected.
	We are advised that individual primary care trusts (PCTs) in the West Midlands believe they are not best able to deliver efficiencies by operating alone. The West Midlands Strategic Health Authority (SHA) has therefore introduced a new model of working in which it has created five clusters in which the 17 PCTs will operate; delivering efficiency savings and reduced management costs through close collaborative working.
	We understand that the SHA is clear that this development is not a precursor to PCT mergers. Individual PCTs remain responsible and accountable for their own performance for the overall health of their population and for commissioning ervices for their population.

Prescription Drugs

David Blunkett: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what his policy is on the provision of specific drugs which the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence indicates do not represent value for money in circumstances where a GP believes they should be prescribed; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: This is a matter for individual primary care trusts.

Royal Liverpool University Hospital

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to provide additional cancer services on the Royal Liverpool University hospital site.

Simon Burns: The Government have pledged that, in future, all service changes must be led by clinicians and patients, not be driven from the top down.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has outlined new, strengthened criteria that he expects decisions on national health service service changes to meet. The local NHS has been asked to consider the impact of this criteria in their area and local communities are establishing how this work will be taken forward.
	We are advised that there have been local discussions between organisations on Merseyside regarding the development of a cancer centre at the Royal Liverpool University hospital site. These proposals are at a very early stage and the Mersey and Cheshire Cancer Network, together with the Liverpool primary care trust (PCT) are currently developing these proposals. If the proposals were agreed by the eight commissioning PCTs, a public consultation exercise would follow.

Royal Liverpool University Hospital

Louise Ellman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  when he expects the contracts in relation to the replacement for the Royal Liverpool University hospital to be signed; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  when he most recently discussed with Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust the proposals for replacing the Royal Liverpool University hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Simon Burns: As with all significant spending commitments made between 1 January 2010 and the election on 6 May, the proposed new hospital scheme for Royal Liverpool and Broadgreen University Hospitals NHS Trust will be subject to the Government's review of such approvals to ensure they are consistent with the Government's priorities and good value for money. The Secretary of State has not discussed the proposed new hospital scheme with the Trust.

Trade Unions

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has to consult trade unions in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies concerning deficit reduction plans.

Simon Burns: The Department and its agency the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) have well-established and constructive industrial relations. Our Partnership Agreement was signed again by both management and unions in 2009. This partnership approach commits the Department to involving unions at every stage of any change process-working together to solve difficulties and to promote best practice in all matters.
	Regular dialogue with unions remains underway and the Department will continue to engage and consult unions about any deficit reduction plans.
	Since 31 March 2010 there has been only one Executive Agency of the Department: the MHRA.

BUSINESS, INNOVATION AND SKILLS

Apprentices

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what steps he plans to take to encourage people to undertake apprenticeships.

John Hayes: The Government are committed to increasing the number of apprenticeships, in particular, advanced apprenticeships that confer technician status. We know that the demand from young people and adults for good quality employer-owned apprenticeships is high. To meet this demand and to build an advanced economy we need advanced skills. The Government's decision to redeploy £150 million of our savings for 2010-11, creating an additional 50,000 places, demonstrates our commitment to high-quality skills. We are investing in our future and training the next generation, as well as developing the existing workforce, which is vital as we emerge from recession.

Business: Closures

Adrian Sanders: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how many limited liability companies ceased operations in the last financial year.

Edward Davey: Companies House does not record how many limited liability companies cease trading. There were, however, 509,711 companies dissolved in the United Kingdom in the financial year 2009/10. This was an increase from previous years due to Companies House taking action to dissolve companies which had not filed their statutory documents for many years.
	During 2009/10 there were however 365,649 new companies incorporated. Therefore, there was only a small fall in the total number of companies on the register.

Companies Act 2006

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what plans he has to review the operation of the Companies Act 2006.

Edward Davey: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has begun an evaluation of the impact of the major provisions of the Companies Act 2006, to assess the extent to which the original policy objectives have been achieved, to validate the estimated costs and benefits, and to identify any areas where the provisions are not working effectively in practice. We will make the results of this evaluation public later in 2010.

Company Accounts

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when he plans to bring forward proposals to reintroduce the Operating and Financial Review; and if he will make a statement.

Edward Davey: The Government's commitment is to reinstate an Operating and Financial Review to ensure that directors' social and environmental duties have to be covered in company reporting, and investigate further ways of improving corporate accountability and transparency. We intend to consult on this issue this summer with a view to publishing our proposals by the end of the year.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills when and in what form he plans to publish a list of all items of expenditure by his Department over £25,000.

Edward Davey: My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has written to Cabinet Ministers reiterating transparency commitments made in the Coalition Programme for Government, and setting out a timetable for achieving them. In particular, all new items of central government spending over £25,000 will be published online in an open format from November 2010.

Further Education: Finance

Angela Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills how much funding he plans to allocate to further education in  (a) 2010-11 and  (b) 2011-12.

John Hayes: The funding levels for further education in 2010-11 were published as part of the Skills Investment Strategy in November 2009. A copy was placed in the Library of the House. On 24 May this year, as part of the Treasury announcements on the £6.2 billion of savings to tackle the deficit, the Chancellor announced a £200 million reduction in the Train to Gain budget, with those savings reinvested into additional apprenticeship places and new investment in FE capital projects. The Secretary of State will write to the Skills Funding Agency reflecting these updated priorities and the impact on funding shortly.
	Funding for future years will be determined as part of the spending review process.

Further Education: Finance

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what in-year changes he plans to make to his Department's funding for each further education institution in the West Midlands in 2010-11.

John Hayes: As part of the £6.2 billion savings announcement on 24 May 2010, £200 million will be redeployed from the Train to Gain programme in 2010-11 financial year. £150 million will be used to support additional apprenticeship places and £50 million for increased capital investment in further education (FE) colleges.
	FE colleges and training organisations will be able to redeploy funding previously intended for Train to Gain in 2010/11 academic year to provide additional apprenticeship places for those aged 19+.
	The Skills Funding Agency is now looking to implement this change, but it is not possible at this time to provide information on the impact it may have on individual institutions in the west midlands.

Further Education: Manpower

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills what estimate he has made of the change in the number of staff in further education colleges in the West Midlands between academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11.

John Hayes: The Department has made no estimate of changes in FE college staff numbers in the west midlands between the academic years 2009-10 and 2010-11.
	FE colleges were established as self-governing, independent organisations following the enactment of the Further and Higher Education Act in 1992. As such, they are responsible for their own terms and conditions, pay and work force planning matters.
	Information about staff working at further education colleges is collected by Lifelong Learning UK, the relevant Sector Skill Council, through the annual Staff Individualised Record (SIR) survey.
	The most recent SIR data for 2008-09 showed 33,427 people working in west midlands further education colleges. The previous SIR report for 2007-08 showed a work force of 30,894.

JUSTICE

Corruption: Public Service

Menzies Campbell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will publish the UK Foreign Bribery Strategy; and if he will make a statement.

Kenneth Clarke: The document referred to was published by the previous Administration on 19 January 2010,  Official Report, column 13WS.

Departmental Electronic Equipment

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many  (a) plasma and  (b) LCD televisions there are in ministerial offices in his Department.

Kenneth Clarke: There are five LCD and no plasma televisions in offices currently occupied by Ministers in the Ministry of Justice.

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his estimate is of the cost to the public purse of proposed reductions in numbers of non-front line staff in his Department and its agencies.

Kenneth Clarke: The savings to be achieved in 2010-11 from the Emergency Budget were predicated on tighter recruitment controls and natural attrition.
	The Ministry of Justice expects shortly to engage in the Government's spending review, as part of which work force plans will be developed. Estimates of the cost to the public purse for any reductions are not yet available.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the  (a) implementation of penalty clauses and payments in its contracts and  (b) potential legal action arising from the deferral and cancellation of contracts and projects under his Department's plans to achieve cost savings; and whether those estimates are included in the total cost savings to be achieved by his Department.

Kenneth Clarke: Over the past three weeks the Ministry of Justice director generals and their staff have reviewed all current spending plans in line with priorities. Each area of the Department is contributing to the delivery of these savings (including arm's length bodies). We are still working through the implications of these savings. At this time we can not release further information in case it impacts on these negotiations and/or breaches commercial sensitivity.

Departmental Redundancy Pay

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to his Department of redundancy payments for  (a) front line and  (b) other staff employed by (i) his Department and (ii) its agencies.

Kenneth Clarke: Wherever possible, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) seeks to achieve headcount reductions by means of natural wastage, recruitment controls and re-deployment of staff to avoid impacting services to the public.
	Between 31 March 2009 and 31 March 2010, 16 people from across the Ministry of Justice, comprising headquarters and executive agencies (HM Courts Service, the National Offender Management Service, the Tribunals Service and the Office of the Public Guardian) were made redundant or faced compulsory severance. The overall cost was £1.4 million(1), an average of £87,500 per staff member. Redundancy packages vary based on grade and length of service.
	The MoJ also operated a voluntary early departure scheme in the last financial year. The future costs of this scheme are currently being finalised and will be published in the MoJ's annual resource accounts prior to the summer recess in the "provisions" note to the accounts. Staff are offered early departure on the basis of a clear business case that the departure will deliver long term savings and efficiencies.
	It is not possible to clearly distinguish front line staff from other staff as many staff in local offices, courts and tribunals across England and Wales work in both public facing and back office roles.
	(1) These figures are unaudited and are subject to change following the National Audit Office's inspection of MoJ Accounts for 2009-10.

Electoral Commission

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what the cost to the public purse of the Electoral Commission was in the last 12 months for which figures are available; what assessment he has made of the value for money of such expenditure; and if he will consider the merits of abolishing the Commission.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply.
	The net operating cost, from audited accounts, for the Electoral Commission for 2008-09, was £22,471,000 of which £1,957,000 was Policy Development Grants to qualifying political parties. This cost was required for the planning for and carrying out of functions and duties imposed on the Commission.
	I have not made a value for money assessment of Electoral Commission expenditure. It is the role of the Speaker's Committee to examine the Commission's annual estimates of income and expenditure and to satisfy themselves that they are consistent with the economical, efficient and effective discharge of the Commission's statutory functions. In doing so, the Speaker's Committee must have regard to annual reports from the Comptroller and Auditor General into how the Commission uses its resources. The Government have set out a major programme of political reform and will be considering the implications for the delivery of elections.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice with reference to the answer of 4 March 2009,  Official Report, column 1707W, on the electoral register, what the estimated cost is of contacting by  (a) email and  (b) letter all electoral registration officers to find out what electoral registration qualifications they hold.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have not made an estimate of the cost of contacting Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) by email although it would be met within staff and resource costs. The cost of sending a letter to all EROs would be £123.87 based on the cost of a second class stamp to 387 EROs for letters weighing up to 100g.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effect of levels of expenditure on electoral registration measures on levels of registration.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Electoral Commission have informed me that they will be publishing their report into the cost of electoral administration covering the 2007-08 and 2008-09 financial years early in June 2010. They also inform me that there has been no assessment yet made of the effect of expenditure on electoral registration on the level of registration. I understand that once the Commission has collected this year's information it intends to look in more detail at any relationship between the levels of expenditure on electoral registration and registration levels.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the adequacy of resources provided by local authorities to electoral registration.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have not yet made such an assessment. The Government have announced their intention to speed up the implementation of Individual Electoral Registration in Great Britain and any consideration of issues relating to registration will be in that context.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how much  (a) central and  (b) local government authorities spent on advertising to promote voter registration in each year for which figures are available.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply.
	 (a) Central Government do not have responsibility for promoting voter registration. However, under section 69 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006, local authorities are under a duty to encourage participation by electors in the electoral process. To support this duty, Government have made funding available to local authorities under an electoral Participation Fund. The figures paid to local authorities for activity in support of participation, including advertising, from the Fund in each of the last three financial years are as follows:
	
		
			   £ 
			 2007-08 170,000 
			 2008-09 500,000 
			 2009-10 150,000 
		
	
	 (b) as set out in answer to  (a), local authorities are under a duty under Section 69 of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 to encourage participation by electors in the electoral process. The amount spent by local authorities in fulfilling this role is not collected centrally.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice which local authority electoral registration departments use bar coding on their electoral registration forms.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply.
	Whether or not individual Electoral Registration Officers (EROs) use bar codes to assist them with the handling of these electoral registration forms is a matter for individual ERO's to determine. The Government do not collect data on the use of bar coding for this purpose.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the use of telephones to confirm continued entitlement to electoral registration; and which local authorities use telephones for this purpose.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have not made an assessment of the use of telephones to support electoral registration. The Electoral Commission has informed me that it will publish some information relating to canvass responses by telephone following their next assessment of Electoral Registration Officers' performance. The expected date of publication of the Commission's next such assessment is spring 2011.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what estimate he has made of total expenditure by local authority registration officers in each of the last 10 years.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have not made such an estimate. However, as part of its work in developing Performance Standards for electoral services, the Electoral Commission launched its financial information survey across Great Britain on 10 September 2007. Electoral Registration Officers and Returning Officers were asked to complete the survey and return it by 31 July 2008, and again in July 2009. I understand that the Commission has published its report "The Cost of Electoral Administration in Great Britain", a report into the cost of electoral administration, covering the 2007-08 and 2008-09 financial years. The report is now available on the Commission's website at:
	http://www.electoralcommission.org.uk/performance-standards/financial-information

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice if he will assess the merits of ring-fencing funds allocated by his Department to local government for voter registration purposes.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government are clear that local government needs increased flexibility to take decisions locally and have announced that over £1.7 billion of grants will cease to be ring-fenced in 2010-11. This step will enable local authorities to make the radical change needed to prioritise resources and improve efficiency while protecting essential frontline services. This represents a significant boost to the financial autonomy of local councils.

Electoral Register

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what reasons his Department has identified for variations in levels of voter registration in different local authority areas with similar socio-economic characteristics.

Mark Harper: I have been asked to reply.
	The Government have not made such an assessment. The Electoral Commission's report published in March 2010, "The Completeness and Accuracy of Electoral Registers in Great Britain", considers local and regional variations in registration levels. The report notes that the highest concentrations of under-registration are most likely to be in metropolitan areas, smaller towns and cities with large student population and coastal areas with significant population turnover and high levels of social deprivation.
	The Electoral Commission found that under-registration and inaccuracy are closely associated with the social groups most likely to move home: young people, private sector tenants and BME residents were cited in particular. However, the Commission's Report does not draw broad conclusions.

Law Centres

Jonathan Edwards: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has for the future of  (a) community legal advice centres and  (b) community legal advice networks; and if he will make a statement.

Jonathan Djanogly: The Legal Services Research Centre has recently completed an evaluation of Community Legal Advice Centres and Networks (referred to as CLACs and CLANs) which is due to be published shortly. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and Legal Services Commission (LSC) will work together to consider the implications of the evaluation on the future of CLACS and CLANs.
	In the meantime, the LSC is continuing to tender for CLA services in the areas announced in April 2008. When existing CLAC and CLAN contracts come to an end, these contracts will either be extended or subject to re-tender as appropriate. At present, the LSC is not seeking to develop any new CLACs or CLANs beyond those already announced. Decisions on the future of CLACs and CLANs will be informed by the results of the evaluation.

Rape: Disclosure of Information

Kerry McCarthy: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice whether the policy proposal in the Coalition agreement: our programme for government to give anonymity to defendants in rape trials is to apply to defendants who have been charged with rape only or charged with other sexual offences.

Crispin Blunt: The Government recognise that there is an argument to be made for defendant anonymity in sexual offence cases other than rape. We shall look carefully at this as we consider how best to give effect to our policy on defendant anonymity in rape cases.

Trade Unions

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice what plans he has to consult trade unions in  (a) his Department and  (b) its agencies concerning deficit reduction plans.

Crispin Blunt: A schedule of meetings is being established in the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) and its agencies to consult the recognised trade unions concerning deficit reduction plans.

Young Offender Institutions

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many incidents of segregation have been recorded in each young offender institution in each year since 2006.

Crispin Blunt: The information requested is not recorded centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost by asking every young offender institution to analyse its records.
	Prisoners may be held in segregation for reasons of good order and discipline or for their own protection. They may also be segregated to await adjudication or, if the prisoner is 18 or over, as a punishment of cellular confinement for offences against prison discipline.

Young Offender Institutions

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many strip searches have been recorded in each young offender institution in each year since 2006.

Crispin Blunt: Full searches (previously known as strip-searches) may be carried out in order to detect items of contraband secreted on the person. NOMS' National Security Framework permits establishments to full search young people (15 to 17-year-olds) and young adults (18 to 21-year-olds) held in young offender institutions (YOIs), both on a routine and intelligence-led basis. Records of full searches conducted in YOIs are not held centrally. To provide the information requested would involve requesting and collating information from all YOIs which could be done only at disproportionate cost.

Young Offender Institutions

Tom Brake: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice how many control and restraint incidents were recorded at each young offender institution in each year since 2006.

Crispin Blunt: The information requested is not available centrally prior to January 2010 and could be provided only at disproportionate cost by asking each young offender institution to analyse its records. A new system of collation came into force in January 2010 and the table below sets out control and restraint incidents at each young offender institution in England and Wales from January 2010 to March 2010.
	
		
			  Table 1: Incidents of control and restraint in 21 young offender institutions in England and Wales from 1 January to 31 March 2010 
			  Establishment  January  February  March  Grand t otal 
			 Ashfield 7 18 10 35 
			 Aylesbury 24 56 11 91 
			 Brinsford 13 12 13 38 
			 Castington 0 0 0 0 
			 Cookham Wood 26 27 32 85 
			 Deerbolt 16 17 12 45 
			 Feltham 43 53 49 145 
			 Glen Parva 32 28 42 102 
			 Hindley 46 46 48 140 
			 Huntercombe 23 10 20 53 
			 Lancaster Farms 17 21 25 63 
			 Northallerton 5 5 5 15 
			 Portland 6 8 10 24 
			 Reading 9 16 21 46 
			 Rochester 18 13 6 37 
			 Stoke Heath 7 18 5 30 
			 Swinfen Hall 9 10 14 33 
			 Thorn Cross 5 5 2 12 
			 Warren Hill 37 26 36 99 
			 Werrington 30 16 12 58 
			 Wetherby 25 21 0 46 
			 Grand total 398 426 373 1,197 
			  Notes: 1 These figures have been drawn from live administrative data systems which may be amended at any time. Although care is taken when processing and analysing the returns, the detail collected is subject to the inaccuracies inherent in any large scale recording system. 2. The number of incidents of control and restraint reported from January 2010 to March 2010 may change should further incidents be reported. 
		
	
	Control and restraint (C&R) is a system of techniques used by a team of three officers as a last resort in order to bring a violent or refractory prisoner under control. The techniques are applied by trained officers for as short a time as possible and only used after all other means of de-escalating the incident have been repeatedly tried and failed.

DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER

Departmental Pay

Tom Watson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what salary he receives as Deputy Prime Minister.

Nicholas Clegg: I am drawing the same salary as other Cabinet Ministers, £68,827 per annum. All Cabinet Ministers have agreed to take a salary of 5% less than previously paid and to freeze it for the duration of the Parliament.

Departmental Public Appointments

Helen Goodman: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many special advisers he  (a) has appointed to date and  (b) plans to appoint.

Tom Watson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister how many  (a) political appointments and  (b) other personal appointments he has made since his appointment; and at what estimated annual cost to the public purse.

Nicholas Clegg: I refer the hon. Members to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W.

Departmental Responsibilities

Kevan Jones: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what the estimated cost is of setting up his office; what the estimated cost is of running his office in its first 12 months; and how many special advisers he has.

Nicholas Clegg: The costs of my office will be published when finalised. I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by the Prime Minister on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W.

Departmental Responsibilities

Tom Watson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister when he plans to publish his ministerial diary.

Mark Harper: As was the case with previous governments, Ministers and officials have meetings with a wide range of organisations and individuals on a range of subjects. Information on my official meetings with external organisations will be published in accordance with the Ministerial Code.

General Election 2010

Frank Field: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister in which local authority areas the chief executive was the returning officer for the parliamentary constituency of that local authority area in the 6 May 2010 general election.

Mark Harper: In England and Wales the majority of the Returning Officer's duties at parliamentary elections, including the conduct of the election, are carried out by the Acting Returning Officer, who is an electoral registration officer (ERO). The ERO is usually the chief executive of a district or London borough council in England or of a county or county borough council in Wales, although the council may appoint any of its officers to be the ERO. Details of the full-time employment of those individuals in England and Wales who served as Acting Returning Officers are not held by the Government.
	In Scotland, Returning Officers for parliamentary elections are officers of local authorities. For the 6 May 2010 general election all Returning Officers were local authority chief executive. The relevant local authority areas were: Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire, Angus, Argyll and Bute, Clackmannanshire, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Dumfries and Galloway, Dundee City, East Ayrshire, East Dunbartonshire, East Lothian, East Renfrewshire, The City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, Fife, Glasgow City, Highland, Inverclyde, Midlothian, Moray, North Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, Orkney Islands, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire, Scottish Borders, South Ayrshire, South Lanarkshire, Stirling, West Dunbartonshire and West Lothian. In Northern Ireland the Chief Electoral Officer for Northern Ireland is the Returning Officer for each constituency in Northern Ireland in the parliamentary general election.

Norman Lamb

Tom Watson: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister whether his Chief Parliamentary and Political Adviser has been allocated  (a) a ministerial car,  (b) a ministerial salary,  (c) secretarial support,  (d) a private office and  (e) a 10 Downing street security pass; and if he will make a statement.

Nicholas Clegg: My Chief Parliamentary and Political Adviser does not have an allocated car and driver and does not receive a ministerial salary in this capacity. As a Government Whip he receives a whip's salary, he has use of the Government car pool service when needed and has access to staff in the Chief Whip's office as appropriate. For reasons of security, the Government do not comment on who has security passes to Government buildings.

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Council Housing: Construction

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the setting of local authority housebuilding projections in local plans.

Bob Neill: A letter to local authority leaders from the Secretary of State, dated 27 May 2010, set out the Government's commitment to abolishing regional strategies and confirmed that in future housing supply issues will rest with local planning authorities without the framework for regional numbers or plans. The policy change should be regarded as a material consideration in planning decisions, including on local plans. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Council Housing: Construction

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the provision of funding for all local authority new build housing schemes announced by his Department in  (a) September 2009 and  (b) January 2010.

Andrew Stunell: The Homes and Communities Agency will fund through to completion those schemes for which they have entered into a grant agreement with the local authority. Decisions on all other schemes will be made after the Emergency Budget on 22 June.

Council Housing: Construction

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations he has received from local authorities and their representative bodies on the review of the local authority new build programme.

Andrew Stunell: There is no review of the local authority new build programme. However, the Homes and Communities Agency will not enter into any new or further commitments against its uncommitted budgets until after the Budget in June.

Council Tax

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his most recent estimate is of the cost to the Exchequer of proposals to freeze council tax in England for one year; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: The Government are committed to a freeze in council tax for at least one year and to seek to freeze it for a further year, in partnership with local authorities. Work is ongoing to estimate the cost of such a freeze and we will make further announcements in due course.

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what percentage of invoices from suppliers to his Department were paid within 10 days of receipt in  (a) March and  (b) April 2010.

Bob Neill: In March 2010 Communities and Local Government paid 92.35% of invoices within 10 days and in April 2010 paid 90.89% of invoices within 10 days.

Departmental Manpower

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many full-time equivalent staff at each civil service grade are employed in the private office of each Minister in his Department.

Bob Neill: The number of staff in each office is set out in the following table. In total this is two fewer than the arrangements inherited from the last Government.
	
		
			   Pay Band 2 (Admin Officer)  Pay Band 3 (Executive Officer)  Pay Band 4 (Higher Executive Officer)  Pay Band 6 (Team Leader)  Senior civil service Pay Band 1 (Deputy Director) 
			 Right hon. Eric Pickles MP (Secretary of State) 1 2 3 1 1 
			 Greg Clark MP (Minister of State) 1 1 2 1 0 
			 Grant Shapps MP (Minister of State) 1 0 3 1 0 
			 Andrew Stunell MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State) 1 2 1 0 0 
			 Bob Neill MP (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State) 1 2 1 0 0 
			 Baroness Hanham (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State) 1 2 1 0 0

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) front-line and  (b) other staff were employed by (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies in the latest year for which figures are available; and what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to the public purse of employing staff of each type at each of those bodies.

Bob Neill: Communities and Local Government does not hold data for its arm's length bodies centrally. Our three Executive agencies have however provided data directly. There would be a disproportionate cost in trying to obtain any further information.
	Available data give the following breakdown for the calendar year 2009-10 (provisional). In accordance with HM Treasury guidance a number of staff are funded from programme budgets. These staff are classified as being front-line.
	
		
			   2009-10 (provisional) 
			   Front line staff  (FTE)  Front line pay cost  ( £000 )  Other staff  ( FTE )  Other pay cost  ( £000 ) 
			 Communities and Local Government (CLG) 286.19 20,477 1,880.54 96,731 
			 Planning Inspectorate (PINS) 714 35,538 0 0 
			 Fire Service College (FSC) 210 9,282 0 0 
			 QEII Conference Centre 48 2,410 0 0

Departmental Ministerial Policy Advisers

Helen Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many special advisers  (a) he and  (b) each named Minister in his Department (i) has appointed to date and (ii) plans to appoint.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W.

Departmental Official Cars

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many Government  (a) cars and  (b) drivers are allocated to Ministers in his Department.

Bob Neill: The arrangements inherited from the last Government for Communities and Local Government are:  (a) six cars and  (b) six drivers allocated to departmental Ministers. This is supplemented by the use of pool cars as needed. These are the interim arrangements.
	The new ministerial code, published on 21 May 2010, contains changes that affect Ministerial entitlement to travel by Government car. It states that
	"the number of Ministers with allocated cars and drivers will be kept to a minimum, taking into account security and other relevant considerations. Other Ministers will be entitled to use cars from the Government Car Service Pool as needed".
	The Department for Transport and its Government Car and Despatch Agency are working with Departments to effect the transition to the new arrangements.
	The ministerial code, published on 21 May 2010, is available on the Cabinet Office website.

Departmental Public Appointments

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many  (a) political appointments and  (b) other personal appointments he has made since his appointment; and at what estimated annual cost to the public purse.

Bob Neill: I refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 3 June 2010,  Official Report, column 99W.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when and in what form he plans to publish a list of all items of expenditure by his Department over £25,000.

Bob Neill: The Department will publish on its website the contract name, name of successful contractor, contract value and agreed Contract Terms of all departmental contract awards valued over £25,000 by 1 September 2010.

Fire Services

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to announce his decision on the relocation of Gloucestershire's fire control operations to the Regional Centre in Taunton; and if he will consult local stakeholders before making such a decision.

Bob Neill: The previous Government's FiReControl project has been subject to delays and increasing costs.
	We are looking closely at this project to establish what we can do to improve the situation. We are committed to ensuring value-for-money for the taxpayer, improving resilience and stopping the forced regionalisation of the fire service.
	We will carefully consider the implications of any decisions before announcing the next steps.

Green Belt

Laurence Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the Green Belt, with particular reference to applications being made to develop land designated as Green Belt; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: holding answer 7 June 2010
	Policy on the Green Belt is currently set out in Planning Policy Guidance Note 2, Green Belts (PPG2), published in 1995. PPG2 establishes a presumption against inappropriate development on Green Belt. If a proposal for such development is received, the local planning authority has to consider whether any harm to the Green Belt would be outweighed by other considerations, and whether very special circumstances exist to justify planning permission.
	In the Coalition Agreement the Government stated that it will publish and present to Parliament a simple and consolidated national planning framework covering all forms of development. Announcements on the future of planning policy will be made in due course. However, the Agreement also undertakes to ensure that the protection of Green Belt by local planning authorities is maintained.
	Finally, I have already announced the Government's intention to rapidly abolish regional spatial strategies and return focus on planning and housing to local councils. Given that the regional spatial strategies have themselves been a source of 'top down' pressure to remove Green Belt protection their removal will strengthen the position of local authorities in protecting Green Belt.

Housing Associations

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will make it his policy to rationalise the number of social housing associations; and if he will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: Housing associations are independent organisations responsible for their own aims, performance and management.

Housing Associations

Bob Russell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will bring forward proposals to reduce the salary levels of senior officials running social housing associations; and if he will make a statement.

Grant Shapps: As independent organisations, it is up to the board of each housing association to determine the level of remuneration to award its executives. However, given that many associations receive public funding through the National Affordable Housing Programme in order to deliver new affordable housing, there is a public interest in associations performing their functions efficiently and economically.
	The Government believe that transparency and public scrutiny are key to ensuring that pay decisions are fully justifiable. Housing associations are required to disclose publicly the remuneration paid to their highest paid director (which is typically the chief executive) and the total cost of their directors. The Government believe that associations should make available as much information as is needed to reassure their tenants and the public that they are managing their resources as efficiently as possible.

Housing: Construction

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many homes with  (a) three or four and  (b) five bedrooms he expects to be built in each region in each of the next five years.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 7 June 2010
	Statistics on the proportion of new-build completions each year that are houses and flats, split by number of bedrooms, are published on the CLG website in live table 254 at the following link:
	http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/housing/xls/table254.xls
	Estimates have not been made by the Government of the number of new homes of each type that will be started or completed in future years.

Housing: Construction

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government 
	(1)  if he will take steps to remove regional housing targets in the West Midlands in advance of the introduction of primary legislation on regional spatial strategies;
	(2)  what timetable he has set for the abolition of regional spatial strategies in the West Midlands; and if he will make a statement.

Greg Clark: The Government are absolutely committed to abolishing Regional Strategies, including regional housing targets. In advance of legislation, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to all local authority leaders and the Planning Inspectorate confirming the Government's intention and that letter can be used as a material consideration in decisions on applications and local development frameworks. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Housing: Regeneration

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on funding of Pathfinder housing areas; and if he will make a statement.

Andrew Stunell: The Government are committed to a range of housing programmes including initiatives to improve the quality of homes, improve access to housing and bring empty homes into use. The Housing Market Renewal programme was included in the £6.2 billion of savings from Government spending in 2010-11 announced on 24 May, reducing the current capital programme budget announced in December 2009 by £50 million. This reduction is subject to consultation. Budgets for 2010-11 will be confirmed after the Emergency Budget is completed on June 22.

Housing: Regeneration

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effects on his Department's funding for Housing Market Renewal areas of changes in public expenditure in 2010 announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 24 May 2010.

Andrew Stunell: The Housing Market Renewal programme was included in the £6.2 billion of savings from Government spending in 2010-11 announced on 24 May. The current capital budget of £286 million announced in December 2009 has been reduced by £50 million. The mechanism by which this reduction is achieved will be subject to consultation. Individual allocations for 2010-11 will be confirmed after the emergency Budget is completed on June 22.

Housing: South East

Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government whether he plans to respond to the South East Regional Select Committee's First Report of Session 2009-10, on Housing in the South East.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 7 June 2010
	Yes, the Government will be responding to this report in the near future.

Local Development Frameworks

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance from his Department is in effect in respect of on-going  (a) examinations in public of local development framework plans and  (b) core strategy hearings.

Bob Neill: General guidance on the assessment of and procedures for examining local development frameworks which include core strategies is set out by the Planning Inspectorate. This can be found online at:
	http://www.planning-inspectorate.gov.uk/pins/appeals/local_dev/index.htm
	In addition my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to all local authority leaders and the Planning Inspectorate confirming the Government's intention to abolish regional strategies and housing targets and saying that he expects them to have regard to his letter as a material consideration in decisions on applications and local development frameworks. A copy of the letter has been placed in the House Library.

Local Government Finance

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects the review of local government finance to  (a) commence and  (b) conclude.

Bob Neill: The coalition Government are fully committed to a review of local government finance and we will make a further announcement in due course. But our first priority must be to sort out the public finances and to get on with our agreed programme of delivering radical devolution and greater financial autonomy to local government.

Local Government: Pay

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what information his Department holds on the number of employees of each local authority who received an annual salary of £100,000 or above in the most recent year for which figures are available.

Bob Neill: The information requested is not held centrally. Our town hall transparency proposals will ensure that senior local government salaries are published in an open and standardised format for public scrutiny.

Local Government: Public Consultation

Christopher Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in what circumstances those resident in a local authority area will be able to initiate a local referendum.

Andrew Stunell: As we made clear in our Programme for Government, published on 20 May, we will give residents the power to instigate local referendums on any local issue. The Government intend to include the necessary statutory provisions as part of legislation to devolve greater powers to councils and neighbourhoods and give local communities control over housing and planning decisions which was announced in the Queen's Speech for this parliamentary session.

Local Government: Reorganisation

John Denham: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what costs his Department incurred in contesting each judicial review of local government reorganisation for  (a) Devon,  (b) Norfolk and  (c) Suffolk.

Grant Shapps: The current costs incurred by the Department for legal proceedings in relation to local government reorganisation in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk are set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Challenge against the Boundary Committee where the Secretary of State has been named as an interested party brought by:  Legal costs to Department (£) 
			 Breckland district council and others 62,450 
			 East Devon district council 31,820 
			 Suffolk Coastal and others 45,875 
			 King's Lynn and others 6,833 
		
	
	In addition, Devon and Norfolk county councils have challenged the decision of the Secretary of State in relation to unitary councils for Exeter and Norwich cities. The High Court has yet to hand down judgment in this challenge and hence the Department's legal costs arising from it are yet to be determined. However, to date the Department has incurred costs of £62,065 on this challenge.
	The Government introduced a Bill into the House of Lords on 26 May which will stop the restructuring of councils in Devon, Norfolk and Suffolk. This will save the taxpayer £40 million in unnecessary restructuring costs.

Local Government: Third Sector

John Pugh: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what assessment he has made of the effect of mid-year reductions in local authority budgets on contracts with the voluntary and charitable sector.

Bob Neill: The contribution which local authorities are being asked to make this year to enable the Government to take immediate action to tackle the United Kingdom's unprecedented deficit should not impact on the delivery of essential front-line services. It will be for individual councils to make decisions about where savings are found. We have retained formula grant funding at the level approved by Parliament for 2010-11 (£29 billion), and have also gone further by lifting restrictions on how local government spends its money, by de-ringfencing more grants. This gives councils the maximum flexibility to focus budgets on those services which local people most want to see.

Non-domestic Rates

Tony Baldry: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he expects small business rate relief to become automatic; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: "The Coalition: our programme for government" sets out our commitment to find a practical way to make small business rate relief automatic. We are considering options and will make an announcement about how we propose to proceed in due course.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Austin Mitchell: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what estimate he has made of the cost of cancelling the demand for retrospective business rates made upon newly separately-rated port companies.

Bob Neill: I will write to the hon. Member with an answer when the data are available and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Non-domestic Rates: Ports

Laura Sandys: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what representations his Department has received on retrospective business rates on firms in ports in the last 12 months.

Bob Neill: A number of representations have been received, predominantly from MPs on behalf of their constituents and the ports lobby group itself. Most of these centre around the request for Government to cancel the backdated liability incurred.
	Having considered these representations my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State issued regulations suspending the collection of such backdated rates in 2010-11 and consistent with the coalition agreement, the Government are urgently exploring ways to remove certain backdated rates liabilities.
	I also met with the ports lobby group on 3 June 2010, to discuss their concerns in person.

Ordnance Survey

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future ownership of the Ordnance Survey; and if he will make a statement.

Bob Neill: Ordnance Survey is Great Britain's national mapping agency and its data underpin the delivery of many vital public services. I am not currently considering changes to the ownership.

Planning Permission: Appeals

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government if he will issue guidance to planning inspectors on the award of costs in respect of large planning appeals.

Bob Neill: Guidance to planning inspectors on the awarding of costs is contained within the Communities and Local Government Circular 03/2009 'Costs awards in appeals and other planning proceedings' published on 6 April 2009.

Regional Planning and Development

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government when he plans to publish guidance on the effects of the abolition of the Regional Spatial Strategies and transitional arrangements which should apply; and what guidance he expects local planning authorities to apply in making decisions on large strategic applications before such guidance is published.

Bob Neill: We are absolutely committed to abolishing Regional Strategies. We are keen to move in advance of legislation and are currently considering revoking Regional Strategies ahead of taking legislation through Parliament. We will make a statement in due course.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to all local authority leaders and the Planning Inspectorate confirming the Government's intention and saying that he expects them to have regard to his letter as a material consideration in decisions on applications and local development frameworks. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Regional Planning and Development

Andrew George: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government on what date he expects regional spatial strategies to cease to be effective; and what function such strategies will have prior to that date.

Bob Neill: We are absolutely committed to abolishing regional strategies, including regional housing targets. We are keen to move in advance of legislation and are currently considering revoking regional strategies ahead of taking legislation through Parliament. We will make a statement in due course.
	My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to all local authority leaders and the Planning Inspectorate confirming the Government's intention and saying that he expects them to have regard to his letter as a material consideration in decisions on applications and local development frameworks. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Regional Planning and Development

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what timetable he has planned for the abolition of regional spatial strategies and the return of decision-making powers on housing and planning to local councils.

Bob Neill: We are absolutely committed to abolishing regional strategies, including regional housing targets and will introduce legislation in the first session to do so. We are keen to move in advance of legislation and are currently considering revoking regional strategies. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State has written to all local authority leaders and the Planning Inspectorate confirming the Government's intention and that letter can be used as a material consideration in planning decisions. A copy of the letter has been placed in the Library of the House.

Social Rented Housing

Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government how many cooperative housing units are registered in each region.

Andrew Stunell: holding answer 7 June 2010
	The number of housing units either owned or managed by cooperatives registered as a provider of social housing with the Tenant Services Authority at 31 March 2009 is as follows:
	
		
			  Region  Stock owned by co-ops (number)  Percentage of total co-op owned stock 
			 London 4,643 39.5 
			 South East 1,904 16.2 
			 South West 20 0.2 
			 East Midlands 711 6.0 
			 East of England 318 2.7 
			 West Midlands 1,080 9.2 
			 Yorkshire and The Humber 144 1.2 
			 North East 569 4.8 
			 North West 2,380 20.2 
			 Outside England 0 0.0 
			 Total 11,769 100.0 
		
	
	Social leased housing and non-social housing owned by small associations (owning/managing fewer than 1,000 units/bed spaces) are not included in these stock totals. Figures for the year to 31 March 2010 are expected to be published in August.

Social Rented Housing: Finance

Natascha Engel: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what his policy is on the funding by his Department of programmes for houses for social rent.

Andrew Stunell: Protecting spending on social housing remains a Government priority. That is why, when we announced £6.2 billion of savings to tackle the deficit, we made available £170 million to safeguard delivery of around 4,000 otherwise unfunded social rented homes.

Social Rented Housing: Lambeth

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for capital allocations to the Decent Homes programme of  (a) Lambeth Living and  (b) United Residents Housing arm's length management organisation in 2011-12.

Andrew Stunell: Neither the Lambeth Living ALMO nor the United Residents Housing ALMO has yet received a high enough rating after inspection by the Audit Commission to access additional funding for its decent homes programme.
	Funding for the Decent Homes programme will be decided in the context of the Government's spending review. Allocations to specific ALMOs will be decided once the outcome of the review is known.

Social Rented Housing: Standards

Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what plans he has for the future of his Department's Decent Homes programme.

Andrew Stunell: Future funding for the Decent Homes programme will be decided in the context of the Government's spending review.

Travellers: Caravan Sites

James Gray: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government what guidance he plans to issue to planning inspectors in respect of the treatment of appeals against planning decisions regarding housing on traveller encampments taken in accordance with requirements of regional spatial strategies in the period prior to abolition of such strategies.

Bob Neill: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government has now written to all local planning authorities and the Planning Inspectorate setting out our intention to abolish regional strategies and return decision-making powers on housing (including the provision of Travellers' sites) and planning to local councils. That letter will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and appeals and the development of plans for Traveller sites.

LEADER OF THE HOUSE

Government Departments: Reviews

Andrew Miller: To ask the Leader of the House what reviews are being undertaken by the Government; for what purpose in each such case; and to what estimated timescale.

George Young: The Coalition Agreement sets out in detail the Government's future plans, including the key reviews it will be undertaking. Individual Departments will bring forward detailed information about these reviews in due course.

PRIME MINISTER

Crimes of Violence: Females

Jo Swinson: To ask the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister with responsibility for co-ordinating the work of the Department for International Development, the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence to tackle violence against women overseas.

David Cameron: The Government are committed to tackling violence against women internationally, building on the work we are already doing bilaterally with partner countries, and with the United Nations. The machinery of government is kept under review.

EDUCATION

British Educational Communications and Technology Agency

Edward Balls: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the  (a) cost and  (b) savings to the Exchequer arising from the abolition of the British Education Communications and Technology Agency in (i) 2010-11, (ii) 2011-12 and (iii) 2012-13.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 7 June 2010
	We expect that the closure of BECTA will save £10 million in 2010-11 after all costs have been met, and the savings in subsequent years will be £65 million per year.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on the future of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Nick Gibb: The Department is reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that when we build schools for the future, we do so in a more cost-effective and efficient fashion.

Building Schools for the Future Programme

Bridget Phillipson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what his plans are for future funding of the Building Schools for the Future programme in  (a) Houghton and Sunderland South constituency and  (b) the North East;
	(2)  how much funding he plans to allocate to the Building Schools for the Future project at Hetton School.

Nick Gibb: holding answer 7 June 2010
	The Department is reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that when we build schools for the future, we do so in a more cost-effective and efficient fashion.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Durham

Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what his plans are for the future of Durham county council's Building Schools for the Future programme; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  which private finance initiative projects for which his Department is responsible he expects to be cancelled consequent on the chief secretary to the Treasury's announcement of 24 May 2010.

Nick Gibb: The Department is reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that when we build schools for the future, we do so in a more cost-effective and efficient fashion.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Gateshead

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how much funding from the Building Schools for the Future programme he plans to allocate to Gateshead.

Nick Gibb: The Department is reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that when we build schools for the future, we do so in a more cost-effective and efficient fashion.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Nottinghamshire

John Mann: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  what capital funding his Department has allocated to the rebuilding of Selby Park primary school in the next four years;
	(2)  what funding his Department has allocated for  (a) new school building and  (b) school rebuilding projects in Nottinghamshire in each of the next four years.

Nick Gibb: The Department is reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that when we build schools for the future, we do so in a more cost-effective and efficient fashion.

Building Schools for the Future Programme: Telford

David Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what his plans are for funding of the school rebuilding programme relating to  (a) Wrockwardine Wood,  (b) Phoenix,  (c) Lord Silkin and  (d) Sutherland Secondary School in Telford; and if he will make a statement.

Nick Gibb: The Department is reviewing the Building Schools for the Future programme to ensure that when we build schools for the future, we do so in a more cost-effective and efficient fashion.

Departmental Internet

Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Education 
	(1)  how much his Department has spent on the creation of the www.scienceandmaths.net website;
	(2)  how much his Department has spent promoting the www.scienceandmaths.net website  (a) on the radio,  (b) on television,  (c) on billboard posters,  (d) online and  (e) by other means.

Michael Gove: The creation of the website originally cost £42,706.67 in 2007-08. Up to 31 March 2010, further production enhancements to the site, in response to young people and sector feedback, cost £137,000. In total, £179,706.67 has been spent on creating the website.
	Table A outlines the media costs used to promote the value of science and maths qualifications as a whole, as well as www.scienceandmaths.net website.
	There is no ongoing expenditure committed to promoting the website post-March 2010, there has been no spend on outdoor advertising and all costs are exclusive of VAT.
	
		
			  Table A: Media costs 
			  £ 
			  Media  2007-08  2008-09  2009-10 
			 Radio 285,075 374,138 463,950 
			 Television - 497,222 540,459 
			 Online (digital) - 245,997 370,000 
			 
			  Other
			 Cinema (1)71,395.77 (1)1,094,582.94 (1)1,024,342.47 
			 PR (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Press advertorials (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Collateral (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Digital partnerships (1)- (1)- (1)- 
			 Total 356,470.77 2,221,939.94 2,398,751.47 
			 (1 )Represents a brace.

Departmental Manpower

David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education how many  (a) front-line and  (b) other staff were employed by (i) his Department and (ii) each of its agencies in the latest year for which figures are available; and what his most recent estimate is of the annual cost to the public purse of employing staff of each type at each of those bodies.

Michael Gove: The Department for Education does not have any agencies, nor does it directly employ what is described as front-line staff.
	The number of staff employed by the Department is available on the website of the Office for National Statistics:
	http://www.statistics.gov.uk/StatBase/Product.asp?vlnk=2899&Pos=&ColRank=1&Rank=422
	The most recently published data in relation to the cost of employing staff in the Department are published in the 2008-09 Resource Accounts which is available at:
	http://publications.dcsf.gov.uk/default.aspx?PageFunction =product details&PageMode=publications&Productld=HC+448
	The Department's 2009-10 Resource Accounts will be published in mid-July 2010.

Departmental Public Expenditure

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what estimate he has made of the cost to his Department of the  (a) implementation of penalty clauses and payments in its contracts and  (b) potential legal action arising from the deferral and cancellation of contracts and projects under his Department's plans to achieve cost savings; and whether those estimates are included in the total cost savings to be achieved by his Department.

Michael Gove: My officials are liaising with the Office of Government Commerce who are undertaking work to review major projects and support the renegotiation of contracts on behalf of central Government to seek efficiencies in the region of £1.7 billion. The analysis of contingent liabilities, in order to achieve maximum actual savings, is a core part of the review methodology and OGC will be taking into account the potential costs of deferment or cancellation. The Department is also currently undertaking an analysis of the remaining relevant contracts which will take into account all exit costs associated with early termination of contracts and cancellation of ongoing procurements.

Teaching Methods

Rachel Reeves: To ask the Secretary of State for Education what recent discussions he has had with local authorities on the implementation of the one-to-one tuition scheme.

Nick Gibb: The Secretary of State has not held any discussions directly with local authorities on the subject of one-to-one tuition. He has, however, confirmed that he will protect front-line spending for schools, and the £256 million allocated to schools and local authorities for one-to-one tuition in 2010-11 is included within that category. The Department has handed £47 million back to the Treasury as part of the Government's broader drive to secure public sector savings over the course of the financial year 2010-11. These savings have been made from centrally held funding for one-to-one tuition which had not yet been allocated and for which no spending plans had been announced.
	Departmental officials have continued to work closely with local authority officers responsible for the implementation of one-to-one tuition locally.

TREASURY

Budget Deficit

Philip Hollobone: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to reduce the level of the budget deficit.

Justine Greening: The Treasury has received a number of budget representations from various sources, some of which make reference to the budget deficit.
	The Coalition Agreement states that "deficit reduction, and continuing to ensure economic recovery, is the most urgent issue facing Britain".
	The Chancellor has announced the first step in tackling the deficit, setting out details of how to save over £6 billion from spending during this financial year. This is the fastest and most collegiate spending review in recent history.
	At the emergency Budget on 22 June, the Chancellor will set out a comprehensive plan to accelerate reduction of the UK's deficit over the course of this Parliament.

Economic Growth

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to increase economic growth.

David Gauke: The Government are taking action to support enterprise and create a fair, competitive, and efficient tax system in order to deliver the private-sector led recovery that will be the foundation of future growth. Fundamental to this strategy will be tackling the budget deficit and providing a stable macroeconomic environment that will underpin private-sector investment and growth.
	Further details of the action Government will take to secure future growth will be included in the Emergency Budget on 22 June.

Economic Growth

Elizabeth Truss: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to increase economic growth.

David Gauke: The Government are taking action to support enterprise and create a fair, competitive, and efficient tax system in order to deliver the private-sector led recovery that will be the foundation of future growth. Fundamental to this strategy will be tackling the budget deficit and providing a stable macroeconomic environment that will underpin private-sector investment and growth.
	Further details of the action Government will take to secure future growth will be included in the Emergency Budget on 22 June.

Economic Growth

Matthew Hancock: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps his Department is taking to increase economic growth.

David Gauke: The Government are taking action to support enterprise and create a fair, competitive, and efficient tax system in order to deliver the private-sector led recovery that will be the foundation of future growth. Fundamental to this strategy will be tackling the budget deficit and providing a stable macroeconomic environment that will underpin private-sector investment and growth.
	Further details of the action Government will take to secure future growth will be included in the Emergency Budget on 22 June.

Economic Growth

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on his policy on capital gains tax.

David Gauke: We have received a number of representations on the proposals to reform capital gains tax. We will take all factors into consideration when making tax policy and further details will be provided at Budget.

Devolved Administrations

Roger Williams: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what his policy is on the mechanism for the provision of funding from the Exchequer to the devolved administrations; and if he will make a statement.

Danny Alexander: The Government recognise the concerns expressed by the Holtham Commission on Welsh funding, the House of Lords Select Committee report on the Barnett formula and other commentators on the system of devolution funding.
	However, as set out in the coalition programme for government, at this time the priority must be to reduce the deficit and therefore any change to the system must await the stabilisation of the public finances.

Credit Unions

Bob Russell: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make it his policy to provide financial assistance to community-based credit unions.

Justine Greening: The Government have made it clear that the role of social enterprises, charities and co-operatives will be enhanced. The provision of financial assistance is a matter for Ministers with responsibility for community-based credit unions in their own areas.

Departmental Billing

Stewart Hosie: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of invoices from suppliers to his Department were paid within 10-days of receipt in  (a) March and  (b) April 2010.

Justine Greening: The percentage of Treasury invoices paid within 10-days of receipt from suppliers was 92.2% for March 2010 and 95.2% for April 2010 against a target set by the Department for Business Innovation and Skills of 90%.

Excise Duties: Beer

Peter Bottomley: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many changes there have been to the level of duty in sales of beer in the last 30 months; and what the total percentage change has been.

Justine Greening: The rate of duty on beer has been changed four times in the past 30 months, a 26% increase in total.

Members: Correspondence

John Baron: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department plans to respond to the letter of 28 April 2010 from the then hon. Member for Billericay regarding his constituent Mr Welford.

Justine Greening: The Treasury hopes to be in a position to respond to the hon. Member shortly and apologises for the delay in doing so.